State of the New York Jets Roster, Quarterbacks

by John B on Jul 11, 2011 11:00 AM EDT

The following is where I rate the current crop of Jets quarterbacks. Please go below for an explanation of the rating system.

Mark Sanchez (2-C)

We have seen what Sanchez is capable of doing when he is at his best. It is a matter of consistency. If he can at least play respectable ball when not at his best, he will eventually jump into the first tier. Everything is set up for Mark. He has the defense, run game, and receiving corps to thrive. If he had just played a bit better in games where he was off last year, the Jets could have been 14-2. It is tough to not see the potential of a guy who outplayed Tom Brady in Foxborough in the Playoffs in just his second season.

Mark Brunell (3-E)

This might be generous. It has been a long time since Brunell has seen time at quarterback in a moment of any significance. Probably the best thing he has going for him is his experience. Say what you will, but he will not be afraid of any situation he is in.

Greg McElroy (3-D)

McElroy probably faces an uphill battle to have a career of any significance in the NFL, but he does seem to complete the checklist of qualities you would want in a developmental quarterback. He is smart, a hard worker, an overachiever, accurate, a winner, etc.

Kellen Clemens (4-F)

He was a second round pick. He has 5 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 5 years as a pro. He still looks as flustered under center as a typical rookie.

Kevin O'Connell (4-F)

Read the part about Clemens and consider the Jets kept him over O'Connell a year ago. O'Connell did not look like a capable quarterback against third stringers in preseason.

Drew Willy (4-F)

He could make the roster in theory, but he seems much more like camp fodder. He would need to light it up Brett Ratliff style, and McElroy would need to look totally inept.

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Comments

Mark Sanchez isn't a second tier player.

In his rookie season he had the lowest passer rating out of any QB not named Jamarcus Russell. He has more INTs in the regular season than TDs, and that is with like you said with a very good supporting class. He made no dramatic improvements in his second year except for cutting down on the turnovers, and even that is swayed a bit by the fact that he had more dropped INTs than any other QB in the league.

And the “if he played better in these games we would have been 14-2” argument is pointless. Its like me saying if Holmes didn’t show up late in games the Jets wouldn’t even had made the playoffs, or if Rob Ninkovich was a stud pass rusher NE would have made the superbowl.

by Crizzle12 on Jul 11, 2011 8:43 PM EDT reply actions

Read the criteria

Group C has players 25 or younger who have made a positive contribution and potentially have upside to move into the first tier.

94 QB rating in 6 Playoff games at 24 years old = positive contribution and upside…not debatable IMO

I don’t think asking him to hit like 50% against the Dolphins against 38% is going out on a limb. If you think Ninkovich being a stud pass rusher is as realistic, that’s your right.

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by John B on Jul 11, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

About every

player in the NFL has in someway shape or form made a positive contribution, thats why they are on a roster. First tier is in at least my opinion a top 5 player at that position. That is something Mark will never reach. It was what all the anaylists were saying when he was coming out of college and he has done nothing to prove them wrong.

And who cares about passer rating when your not putting up points? How many times have the Jets offense scored more than 20 points compared to less? In the playoffs he plays at an average-good level, but besides those decent games his career has been lackluster.

And the point of the Ninkovich comment was to present an example about the futility of the “if he” argument. I could use “if he”/“if they” to argue that the 2010 Ravens were actually a 16-0 team…

by Crizzle12 on Jul 13, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Go home troll.

Bottom line… He wins. In his first 2 seasons he won 4 road playoff games and went to the AFCC game. He’s clutch. And he’s a strong leader.

Haters are gonna hate I guess.

by Crackback on Jul 12, 2011 9:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Troll?

I provide a solid argument, and you call names. Provide something usefull.

by Crizzle12 on Jul 13, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

That was not a solid argument

And you lost all leverage when you said his playoff performances were “average”

by Jerrad p on Jul 16, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

How wasn't it a solid argument?

I guess we should ignore the fact that he has more INTs than TDs, his low passer rating, and his mediocre regular seasons? Were his playoff performances better than average? If so, then why do the Jets have so much trouble scoring 20 points? NY has had such poor QB play for so long that Jet fans dont seem to understand what good QB performances are.

by Crizzle12 on Jul 16, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Brunell / Clemens

I question the value of Brunell as a mentor in the second year. I am not sure if he can contribute anything more to the development of Sanchez. Time to take the training wheels off.
I would like to see a fair competition between Clemens and Brunell for the backup job. I am not a Clemens guy, but he never worked with a good OL. If Sanchez goes down, heaven forbid, I just think Clemens could win more games than Brunell. The other concern is due to Brunells advanced age, I fear he will break quickly, and then the Jets are in the hands of a rookie 7th round pick…

by JetOrange on Jul 12, 2011 7:24 AM EDT reply actions

McElroy

you say he is smart which is an understatement, This guy is probably the smartest guy on the Jets roster. IMO he could be a real steal sure he don’t have the cannon arm but, he don’t need that, he needs to get some field time with the 2’s he can make the Jets fan’s as a whole breath a sigh of relief if he can bring that big brain to the field of play.

by JETSFAN IN SC on Jul 12, 2011 8:41 AM EDT reply actions